"Jiè Shì Xiǎo Bái Zuò Pǐn Màn Màn Xiān Tú Màn Màn Xiān Tú Màn Màn Xiān Tú Dì Yī Juǎn 60 Liù Shí, Liàn Qì Sài (Sì)"

  Translated to English:

  "The End of the World's Little White Work Slowly Immortal Path Slowly Immortal Path Slowly Immortal Path Volume 1 Chapter 60 Sixty, Refining Tool Competition (Four)"

  Three days have passed since the start of the competition, and Xiao Yao is still in her solitary room, yet to begin forging. She spent one morning carefully analyzing the materials on the workbench, selecting the correct ones, and the remaining two days were spent sharpening the tools in her hands.

  There is a saying: "If you want to do a good job, you must first sharpen your tools." Needles and other fine instruments are difficult to cast because of their slender and pointed shape. Casting needles requires more skill and technique than casting ordinary swords or knives. Moreover, the casting of fine instruments like needles is often used by master craftsmen as a test of their apprentices' skills in shaping metal. Almost every master teaches his apprentices: "Whether you can cast well or not, try making a set of needles to find out."

  "Jiulong Zhen" consists of nine needles, five long and four short, each with different lengths, thicknesses, and fineness. This results in varying degrees of force and technique required during casting and firing, making the craftsmanship complex, comparable to some silver ritual objects, despite being a mid-grade bronze artifact.

  Sharpening her tools, Xiao Yao still hadn't started working on the project. From the initial test questions to the selection of equipment and the "Nine Dragon Needle" shape, she had repeatedly pondered over it. She realized that this exam was not just about the quality of the equipment, but rather about the various basic details of refining equipment, a comprehensive assessment. The four major steps of forging, each with its own strengths and weaknesses, made it more difficult than simply requiring a high-quality product. It was also easier to see a person's level!

  Ready with the tools, Xiang Yao inferred the examiner's intention and knew what kind of artifact she had to present. She focused on the instrument, and in her mind, the shape of the nine-needle artifact gradually appeared, then decomposed into each step. When she raised her eyes again, her gaze was clear, and without a moment's delay, she began to forge!

  Once she got the hang of it, Xiao Yao eliminated all distractions and entered a state of complete absorption, focusing her mind on casting. With the shape of the artifact already formed in her mind, she cast the mold with ease, completing nine needles in just two days.

  Xiao Yao tested the hardness of the nine needles and looked at their thickness, length and shortness. Only then did she wipe away the sweat on her forehead with satisfaction, enter a state of emptiness to meditate for half a day, preparing for the most important furnace refining part.

  Just as she was about to start smelting, a participant had already completed the forging of "Nine Dragon Needles".

  Fu Chun looked at the nine red glowing needles lying on the case table, and then looked at the handsome young man in front of the case table.

  It has been five days since then...

  He stared blankly, then reminded him: "This little friend is going to hand in the instrument? Once the instrument is handed in, it cannot be regretted and will be used as your final assessment score. Little friend should think carefully."

  The young man listened and didn't change his expression, saying without hesitation, "Thank you for reminding me, senior. I'm very clear about the rules. Moreover, since the vessel has already taken shape, even if a mistake is discovered, the best opportunity to correct it has been lost. Looking back now would only reveal one's own lack of confidence, and wouldn't change the outcome in the slightest. I will never regret what has happened."

  When he finished speaking, the man bowed respectfully and turned around to leave, never once looking at the ritual objects on the table from start to finish.

  Fu Chun waited for the person to leave, then picked up the needle holder. On the nine needles, a bright metallic luster was visible. At first glance, they seemed to be of uniform thickness, but when held in hand, it could be felt that each needle was different. The surrounding aura was dense and better than the sample needle!

  At that moment, he was invigorated, his eyes shining brightly. The quality of this piece was almost the same as the "Biyu" he had acquired last time, and its appearance was even more outstanding. It was no wonder that this young man was so proud of himself!

  He looks unfamiliar, and has never been seen in the major family sects of Piao Island. He's either a recluse or someone from another island. I'll send someone to investigate his identity and background later. Maybe we can take the initiative to win him over first.

  Thinking of this, Fu Chun called over a disciple from the side and instructed him for a few sentences before the person took orders and hastily left. Afterwards, he stroked his white eyebrows and couldn't help but think of that female cultivator who sold "Bi You". At the start of the competition, he had clearly seen her among the participating teams, but didn't know how well she was doing in the forging process, or whether that "Bi You" was forged by her.

  Day after day passed, and by the seventh or eighth day, all the cultivators had come out of the forging room one after another, and handed over their finished "Nine Dragon Needles". Six more days passed, and less than twenty rooms in the closed forging room were left. The cultivators who sat on the spectator platform at the beginning of the competition also gathered again in the Qizong Hall, waiting quietly for the result of the competition.

  On the fifteenth day, with only two hours left until noon, which was also the final deadline, Xiao Yao finally emerged from the forging room with bloodshot eyes. After handing over the finished "Nine Dragon Needle", someone led her back to the front courtyard's grand hall. All the contestants were resting inside, and the various craftsmen were engaged in lively discussions, filled with confidence and enthusiasm. However, there weren't many people chatting; most were quietly meditating on the side. From their facial expressions, some were secretly delighted, while others looked disheartened or frustrated, each with their own emotions.

  Xiao Yao quickly scanned the grand hall and found a quiet spot in the corner where she sat down with her legs crossed, closed her eyes, and began to meditate.

  The last time, she had barely managed to condense a single inferior bronze artifact, exhausting all her spiritual energy. This time, she was forging a mid-grade bronze artifact, which nearly cost her half her life. Fortunately, the artifact was a needle, so she could slowly condense it one needle at a time, making slight adjustments along the way. Even so, she was still utterly exhausted. If not for the final few critical moments when she handed over control of the firing process to Feng Huo, this set of needles probably wouldn't have been successfully forged either.

  This is the limit of her current bronze-yellow mid-grade artifact, and to forge a higher-level artifact, she will have to rely on constant practice and improvement of her spiritual awareness. Otherwise, she can only stop at this point, which is something she does not want to see happen. No matter which path she takes, she wants to go further and fly higher!

  "Bang, bang, bang......"

  It's noon, the big bell rings again, but this time it's the end of the forging session. Many people look tense as they watch the temple door slowly open, and standing outside is still that old man, who says politely: "Please follow me to the outside of the temple, where the appraisal results will be announced."

  Over a hundred alchemists arrived at the front yard once again, Xiang Ya walked in the back of the group and saw him two people away from her side profile. It was Mr. Zhuge whom she met at the teahouse two years ago. He slightly raised his chin, looking spirited and seemingly in a good mood. Suddenly, he turned his face and met Xiang Ya's gaze head-on. In an instant, he furrowed his brow with a disapproving shake of his head and muttered under his breath: "This child is indeed unteachable."

  That look of Xiao Yao couldn't help but remind her of the teacher in the Xiao family village, a complete old eight-share, who would frown and mutter every day when he saw naughty children: "Children are not worth teaching", feeling both familiar and pleasant, really making people want to laugh.

  Mr. Zhuge saw Xiao Yao suddenly smile at him, thinking she was provoking him, so he puffed out his chest, glared and scolded: "Ignorant! Fearless! Shameless!"

  Poor Xiao Yao didn't know how she had offended this eccentric gentleman, and before she could even wonder about it, he had already turned away with a flick of his sleeve.

  The front courtyard's viewing platform was packed. Bai Yuzi sat high up on the main viewing platform, with Wan Chuanling Jun and Liu Li Ji sitting in attendance to his left and right. Today, there was also a beautiful young girl sitting beside Liu Li Ji, even though her face was veiled, Xiao Yao could still recognize that it was Ke Zhen. As for Ke Wu, however, she had not been seen, nor were Wan Jia Ling Jun and the blind old man who had come with Bai Yuzi anywhere to be found.

  As everyone who had completed the forging gathered in the courtyard, the old man retreated to one side. Fu Chun walked out from under the viewing platform, followed by four burly men carrying a huge red tray behind him. When they reached the center of the courtyard, the tray was put down, and the crowd saw that it held over a hundred "Nine Dragon Needles". So many identical artifacts placed together at once, each with a wooden sign attached to it, bearing a number corresponding to its placement position, made for a spectacular sight.

  As the red platform landed, the surroundings also quieted down. Then, Fu Chun coughed lightly twice and said to the crowd of craftsmen: "Everyone, the items placed above are the 'Nine Dragon Needles' that you all forged this time. As for which one was forged by whom, please refer to the wooden sign next to each item with the corresponding number. The numbers on the signs match your participant numbers. Please re-check once again whether the item with the corresponding number is indeed yours. If there are any objections, please raise them immediately. Once the evaluation begins, it will be considered that you have no objection to the ownership of the items and cannot question the results of the evaluation on the grounds that this item was not forged by me. Those who violate this rule will be disqualified from the competition!"

  Many participants came forward to identify, some even held it in their hands for a closer examination. Xiao Yao simply stood in front of the red platform and glanced at the magic tool with the number 44 wooden plaque attached to it. The subtle connection between the magic tool and its master allowed her to confirm that the "Nine Dragon Needle" was indeed made by her own hands without needing further identification.

  After a moment, the contestants returned to their original positions. Fu Chun confirmed again and loudly announced: "From now on, masters whose license plate numbers I call, please stand on the left side, those who are not called, please remain in your original position."

  At once, all the cultivators perked up their ears and listened as Fu Chunyin slowly and clearly read out the numbers one by one: "Five, seven, eleven..." A total of 156 people were called to the left side.

  When the one hundred and sixty-eighth number was finally called, Fu Chun stopped calling out numbers and slowly swept his gaze over all the contestants. At this moment, whether it was those standing in place or those who had been called to their numbers, even the crowd on the observation deck, were all looking up with bated breath, tensely waiting for this moment that would reveal success or failure!

  The author has something to say: After returning, the update is really uninteresting and not fun at all.